Women are calling for more action in tackling climate change, tougher targets in reducing CO₂ emissions and more involvement in the environmental decision making process, in a manifesto launched today by two influential women’s organisations.

The Women’s Manifesto on Climate Change, jointly produced by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), will be launched today at a reception at Portcullis House, Westminster (Tuesday 15 May).

The manifesto states that women are a powerful resource to be mobilised to act against climate change. More than 500 women took part in a NFWI/WEN survey that informs the manifesto.

Women make most of the household decisions that can influence global warming and are eager for support to do more to help reduce carbon emissions. The manifesto calls on the Government to involve women more in decision-making so that policies on climate change reflect women’s ideas and priorities.

The survey shows 80% of women are very concerned about climate change. Ninety eight percent of the respondents are keen to see the UK demonstrating world leadership in tackling climate change but 97% don’t think the Government and industry are doing enough.

Women want more green products and carbon labelling of goods (85%), lower prices for environmentally friendly products (85%) and more government grants and incentives for energy efficiency and micro-generation to reduce carbon emissions.

NFWI Chair, Fay Mansell said: “Women have the power to be hugely influential in tackling climate change. WI members are informed and want to make a difference. But the Government must listen to our manifesto demands and enable women to make a greater impact on reducing carbon emissions.”

Sue Buckingham, Chair of WEN said: ”The survey confirms what we already know from WEN members: women take climate change very seriously, are willing to act and want government action to encourage greener behaviour and involve women in environmental decision-making.”

ENDS

For further information and to request embargoed copies of the Women’s Manifesto on Climate Change (including survey results), please contact the NFWI or WEN press offices:
Katie Austin or Amy Bick on 020 7371 9300/07803 086115 or k.austin@nfwi.org.uk at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes
Liz Sutton at WEN on 020 7481 9004 or comms@wen.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Media are invited to attend the launch event at 3.30pm on Tuesday 15 May at The Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment, London SW1. As space is limited, please contact Katie Austin on 020 7371 9300 if you wish to attend.

2. At the launch, Fay Mansell, Chair of the NFWI, will present the manifesto and TV presenter and eco-expert Penney Poyzer, a matron of WEN, will present the survey results.

3. The WI is the largest women’s organisation in the UK with 211,000 members in 6,800 WIs. The charity campaigns on issues that matter to women and their communities from children’s diet and the environment to excess packaging and dairy farming. Visit www.theWI.org.uk for more information.

4. WEN is a national membership charity that campaigns on environment and health issues from a women’s perspective. Visit www.wen.org.uk for more information.

5. Penney Poyzer presented No Waste Like Home, a BBC2 series on how to reduce waste and save energy in the home. She has eco-fitted her own Victorian house in Nottingham and became a Matron of WEN (the equivalent of a Patron) in 2005.

6. The online survey was conducted on the WEN and NFWI website in February and March 2007. More than 500 women responded.

7. Case studies are available.